School Chief Predicts Tough Calls

Foresees Cuts In Programs

January 27, 2004|By DAN UHLINGER; Courant Staff Writer

SOUTH WINDSOR — Superintendent Joseph Wood said Monday he is finishing a budget proposal that requires serious cuts in educational priorities but meets the board of education's goal of a 4 percent spending increase.

Wood would not disclose details of the proposal but said he would give it to board members tonight if they hold their 7 p.m. meeting at Timothy Edwards Middle School as scheduled. The weather forecast is calling for a winter storm, and school officials had not decided Monday whether to postpone the meeting.

Wood believes the proposed budget for 2004-05 will force board members to make tough decisions on programs that directly affect students.

``They should see this proposal as a work in progress,'' Wood said.

Payroll, which is largely determined by employee contracts, health insurance, mandated state programs, utilities and other fixed costs represent most of the $46.8 million budget for 2003-04.

Wood said an 8.5 percent increase in spending is needed just to maintain current programs and to cover payroll and other fixed expenses.

``I'm definitely interested in seeing if [Wood] gets to 4 percent and how he gets there,'' board Chairman Robert E. O'Connor said. ``This is definitely going to be a challenging year. I'm hoping that there are ways to find economies. It's going to be interesting to see what we come up with here.''

``I can only guess there will be serious cuts to this budget. You can imagine what the cuts will be,'' she said. ``People need to stand up and pay attention to this budget process. Everybody needs to understand what's at stake. It's their children's future and their property values.''

Last year, Wood proposed a 9.8 percent budget increase, saying that for years the town had lived with ``status quo budgets'' and that it was time to improve the quality of education.

The board largely agreed with Wood, but cut $700,000 to bring the budget to an 8.2 percent increase. The town council, however, said taxpayers could not afford that and cut the increase to about 4 percent.